Highland Neighborhood Association March 2022 Meeting Agenda/Minutes

Notetaker: Andrea Grimes, HNA secretary

6-6:15: Nick Pellicciotto, President HNA

● Q from Nick for Officer Huskins - St. John’s/35 - nuisance abatement suggestion from neighbor against Motel 6

  • Unclear whether property is “nuisance”

     Huskins: has been historically difficult to accomplish with businesses.

    Talked with city code enforcement (code-related abatement vs. criminal

    via APD), there’s a nuisance abatement detective at APD

  • Nuisance Abatement Guidance from the TXAG:

    https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/files/divisions/crim

    inal-justice/NuisanceAbatement.pdf

  • Melinda Weaver Schiera - attends cross-neighborhood meetings re: St. John’s/35

■ MWS in chat: “APD would like neighborhoods to come together, and lead our public safety meetings. I want to ensure that I am understanding all issues that need to be addressed in future meetings, and that as many people who want to be are involved. The purpose of this survey is to collect input and contact information to invite to meetings. https://forms.gle/13HHdjLRn8og1dDZ7 Let me know if you have any questions at melinda.schiera@gmail.com”

6:15-6:30: Staryn Wagner, Watershed on Northcrest project

  • City dept focuses on streams, erosion, river, flooding ish – specifically on the water quality in streams

  • Project includes Waller creek along Northcrest north of St. John’s for ~ 2.5 blocks. Part of vision includes expanding neighborhood access, recreation, and enhanced stormwater treatment and flood control. A few limitations with options on what they can spend $ on.

    • Trail that would go from St. John’s to Croslin – wide enough for joggers + cyclists and connex to Highland Park

    • Rain gardens make things nice and habitat-friendly

    • Pedestrian bridge - at SE corner of Highland Park

    • Off-street parking- opportunities along Croslin and O Dell

  • Plug for rain catcher pilot program -

    www.austintexas.gov/department/rain-catcher-pilot-program

  • ATD also planning to change intersection at St. John’s and Northcrest

  • Drew Sloat, COA landscape architect also in attendance – presents mockup of

    proposed rain gardens/landscaping for Northcrest stream area

Highland Neighborhood Association March 2022 Meeting Agenda

  • Wagner emphasizes that this is highly preliminary, can easily be changed

  • Questions from neighbors

○ Kate Garza - VP for HNA Central Sector and Parks Chair for Highland Neighborhood Park - number one thing heard from neighbors is pedestrian bridge, no safe way to get into park except from St. John’s because of a ditch blocking access, would be a big improvement to quality of life, offers HNA letter or help from neighbors with structural engineering expertise

■ Wagner response: Austin transpo department is in charge of bridge, not within scope of watershed project. Nathan Wilkes with bikeways program would be key contact for bridge. More elements in place will make bridge more appealing for ATD.

  • Witt Featherston - owns properties at Croslin intersections, hello, is excited for the project.

  • Nicholas Joseph - not really a question, more of a comment. Likes the bridge near Guadalupe that connects Highland and Skyview. Supports new pedestrian bridge. Question about feedback: how can we submit?

    • Wagner response: will drop survey in the chat, and also sending out mailers to come with more information.

    • SURVEY!

  • Edwin Bautista, HNA Communications Dreictor: hopes parking is

    restricted to use for accessibility reasons, for sidewalk would like to see micro mobility parking (scooters, bikes), increase in usage of the space for transpo beyond walking

■ Wagner response: so you’re asking about parking for bikes/etc/benches? Yes!

6:30-7:00: Councilmember Chito Vela

  • Joins with comms director Jenna, who will be point of contact for District 4 emails

  • Immigration attorney, lives in Windsor Park and offices in Highland

  • Big fan of micro-mobility and neighborhood connections for residents

  • Says TX lege has handicapped city’s ability to address issues for residents – more

    financial constraints than there have been in past years, will need to be smart with

    money/budget to add amenities and neighborhood infrastructure

  • Introduces Sobeyda Gomez - constituent liaison/advisor for Vela office

  • Questions from neighbors

○ Nick P.: Viability of nuisance complaint? Is inclined to put to vote for HNA. Don’t want to pursue complaint against a business that isn’t promoting nuisance, may be a victim of situation as well.

■ Vela: understanding is that this is a really high bar, if Motel 6 is willfully allowing itself to be a base for illegal activity

Highland Neighborhood Association March 2022 Meeting Agenda

  • (Neighbors in chat express concerns - “We don’t know what the Motel is allowing to happen,” “It’s a high bar but we are talking about multiple murders and illegal activity,” “Are they allowing loitering? Do they have security?”)

  • Jenna with D4: worked with TX Harm Reduction alliance – not trying to minimize seriousness but noting that nuisance bar is high to clear with proving that business is directly endangering surrounding area with purpose.

○ Kaia Klaumann: would like to see a cost estimate of city costs in policing the area. Believes that the area is a source of human trafficking based on multiple news sources. Follows APD on Twitter and sees a lot of posts about crime in the area.

  • Vela: needs a long-term solution, lots of area improvements that long-term may improve area, “big solutions on the table.” Also concerned about middle schoolers encountering illegal activity getting to and from school. Concerns about encampment behind Home Depot property – trying to find viable, longer-term solutions that are better than displacement. Housing coming “online” in 12-18 months but what to do in meantime.

  • Klaumann: I feel that crime/bad actors are coming from “outside.”

  • Vela: Totally understand, not a short term issue, predates homeless

    encampment, took a while for problem to get where it is and will take time

    to solve it, it’s a top priority.

  • Jenna: offers to contact legal department at city to talk about nuisance

    issue, email her at D4 email address for more.

  • Edwin Bautista: thanks to Vela for joining and for visiting HNA before even

    being elected. Appreciate efforts to find solutions at intersection (such as 7-Eleven reducing hours, etc). Says ACC/UT student supporters are willing to work to support efforts to make area safer. Brings up housing affordability on ACC campus as well.

  • Vela: affordability number one issue in ATX right now. Also connected to homelessness. Fewer affordable options now – talking to homeless folks and advocates, hard to get back into housing after affordable options are lost, even if they’re not great to start with. West Campus turning into affordable area. Urgent need for affordable housing, is working on it.

  • Bautista: was priced out of West Campus, lived in central austin for past few years, looking forward to working with Vela/city on ish.

○ Vela closing:

  • seeking input from D4 residents on Project Connect light rail, in final

    planning stages, input needed in next six months. Need to bury utilities.

  • Skeptical of highway expansion plans, it’s not a city issue – not even sure

    if city stood against TxDOT but interested in feedback from folks.

Highland Neighborhood Association March 2022 Meeting Agenda

■ Melinda Weaver Schiera: heard that Lamar could be COA road – wants to do an art project to highlight.

● Vela: notes SATX efforts around Broadway – TxDOT through Gov. Abbott said no, took it back. ATX relationship with state is “problematic,” does not have a willing partner in state. “Have become a whipping boy for political reasons,” may prevent progress here. Example - station in Republic Square killed by legislature. “Very concerned” about that relationship between COA and state.

■ Nick P: Have gotten q’s from Highlanders whose homes back up to Lamar-facing businesses, concerns about zoning changes related to light rail that could put biz closer than desired to residents. (Station area plan)

● Vela: will look into it, knows about North Lamar Transit Center but unsure about station directly south (Crestview). Notes that most residents along corridor voted for light rail. Also, train gates + multiple crossings will change substantially in next 10 years.

■ Nicholas Joseph: re: 35 – wants to push for as many connections as we can, not lose walkability across corridor. Making access “nice” – in a sense that they’re easy and inviting to use for pedestrian/cycles. Creating less of a “no man’s land.”

● Vela: yep, all sounds good. Folks tend to focus on downtown, maybe up to 38th. Not currently planning for connections north of 51st, have had folks killed b/c crossings are not available. Only additional crossing was staircase + cage – rarely used. Would like to see connection at North Loop + Capitol Plaza, connect east and west via 35. Or 183 and Rundberg. Wants more pedestrian connections not just in downtown but northern stretches.

■ Félix: Dangerous intersection at St. John’s and Guad, folks speeding and running lights.

  • Vela: absolutely concerned, notes that intersection may be affected by upcoming changes to St. John’s/Lamar. Police presence could be option.

  • Félix: road diet would be preferable to increased police presence, appreciates Vela platform + support.

  • Jenna: Have also gotten reports from other neighbors about St. John’s and Guadalupe, talking to ATD about prioritizing intersection at traffic safety study.

  • Nick P: have seen rumble strips before stoplight, a “trigger” for drivers to notice stop coming up. Also, weird road patterns at airport are wild. Lot of times it takes a death to change a pattern.

  • Vela: Shouldn’t have to wait for someone to die for traffic concerns to be addressed.

Highland Neighborhood Association March 2022 Meeting Agenda

  • Cale Newman: Not a fan of just painted lanes – would love to see something more useful there.

  • Vela: Berkman could be a good example – bumps and flexible posts have helped.

  • Officer Huskins: was looking at section of Guad that Nick brought up – looks like from January, they put a new double yellow and didn’t take the other double yellow out.

  • Vela: okay let’s take action!

  • NP thanks to AG for note taking :D

7:00: Open Forum

  • NP couple last things:
    Community event on 5/21 - block party, picnic, maybe combine with cleanup or other event. Stay tuned for meeting info. If you’d like to participate in planning/org, please do so – emailpresident@highlandneighborhood.org or secretary@highlandneighborhood.org

Adjourned!